TPJ files complaint over Board of Ed Members' alleged acceptance of gifts

TPJ filed formal complaints yesterday with the Texas Ethics Commission against State Board of Education members Rick Agosto and Rene Nunez for failing to disclose personal gifts they reportedly received from representatives of AEW Capital Management of Boston, a firm seeking an investment contract from the board. An investigative report appearing in the Dallas Morning News on October 10 alleged that documents filed by AEW Capital as part of its contract bid reveal that Agosto and Nunez received gifts valued at more than $5,000. The Morning News reports that in 2008 Agosto received a golf outing valued at $324 and Nunez received a football outing valued at $729. Public officials must disclose any gift they receive valued at more than $250. Neither Agosto nor Nunez reported any such gifts on their Personal Financial Disclosure statements covering 2008. TPJ filed the complaints to urge the Ethics Commission to determine if either board member had violated public disclosure laws.

Read the investigative report in the Dallas Morning News.

Dallas AM News: Perry TABC chief solicits donations for governor

By Wayne Slater
Gov. Rick Perry's appointee as chairman of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is soliciting contributions for the governor's re-election campaign from the owners of bars and restaurants he regulates.

Read the full story at the Dallas Morning News.

Lobby Watch:In 2008, Perry & KBH Had Craddick's Back.

Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison both lost the most important race in Texas' last election. In 2008 their campaigns each gave money to GOP candidates for the Texas House. Each of the rivals favored candidates deemed friendly to then-Speaker Tom Craddick.


Read the details in the latest Lobby Watch.

Lobby Watch: Lobby Floods New Speaker With Wealth

Rep. Joe Straus announced he had the votes to be House speaker during the six-month fundraising blackout that surrounded the 2009 legislative session. After session's end, the new speaker mobilized the lobby and raised $721,050 in one week--double what he had bagged over the preceding two years.

Read the full Lobby Watch.

Interested Parties: Report Details Supreme Court Donors

Three incumbent Texas Supreme Court justices were re-elected in 2008 with the help of $2.8 million in campaign money -- half of it from lawyers, law firms and lobbyists.

Read the TPJ report and download a complete list of donors to each of the winning justices.

TPJ Files Complaint Against Texas Jobs PAC -- Says PAC Laundered Craddick Money in 2008

TPJ filed a complaint with the Texas Ethics Commission today alleging that the Texas Jobs & Opportunity PAC served as an illegal conduit in 2008 for contributions from then-Speaker Tom Craddick to three Democratic House candidates.

Read the full news release.

Money in Politex 2008See Who Bankrolled Your Legislator!

TPJ's new report, Money in PoliTex 2008, analyzes the $95 million raised by 312 major-party candidates in the 2008 legislative elections. Report provides complete contributor lists for each of Texas' 181 sitting lawmakers.

Read the media release and the full report.

Rangel: Perry-Hutchison camps waging big bucks battle

In 2002 when he was seeking his first four-year term, Republican Gov. Rick Perry spent about $25 million and that was enough to crush his Democratic challenger, Laredo multimillionaire Tony Sanchez, despite being outspent almost 3-1.

Read the complete column at the Lubbuck Avalanche-Journal.

Senator v. GovernorReport Dissects Money Chase in Guv's Race

Analysis of the first $29 million raised by GOP gubernatorial candidates Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry. The most comprehensive look yet at their rival fundraising machines.
Read the report and download the candidates' full contributor lists.

Amarillo Globe-NewsTech Regents Donate to Perry

Two Give Hundreds of Thousands
by Enrique Rangel
Texas Tech University System regents Larry Anders and L. Frederick "Rick" Francis, both appointed by Gov. Rick Perry, have contributed more than $400,000 and $300,000 to the governor's political campaigns, according to records filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.
Read the full store at Amarillo.com.